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Diego Castillo during an April game.
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Mother's Day a reminder of support from afar for Pirates' Diego Castillo

Stacy Revere / Getty Images

Mother's Day a reminder of support from afar for Pirates' Diego Castillo

CINCINNATI — Diego Castillo leaned against the dugout railing on a sunny day last month inside St. Louis’ Busch Stadium, the Gateway Arch over his left shoulder and a smile plastered across his face.

Before Castillo made his MLB debut on Opening Day, the Pirates had him stand in this spot to record a message for his mother, Maria (or “Baba”), who was stuck at home in Lara, Venezuela, unable to see her son play because of visa issues.

It’s a difficult situation for Castillo, who said he hasn’t seen his mom in three years because of ongoing difficulties getting in and out of their native country. Yet despite the physical distance, they remain as close as ever, Baba motivating her son through daily text messages and phone/FaceTime calls multiple times per week.

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“She’s always with me,” Castillo told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Every game, every practice, she was always there. So I remember that. That’s why whatever I do here in the big leagues, I go straight to her and tell her. I know she’s going to be super happy.”

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The Castillos will be happiest, of course, whenever they’re reunited, a day that could soon be approaching.

Diego said after learning he would break camp with the big club, he and his family tried to expedite the visa process for his mom, but it didn’t work; they were turned down by the Venezuelan Embassy. No reason was given, as can often be the case with these types of things.

For their next shot, still five months or so away, the Pirates have intervened to provide help and guidance any way they can, a gesture that Diego certainly appreciates.

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In the meantime, the two settle for communicating by phone, Diego knowing his mom is watching every game and the easygoing rookie stashing keepsakes that he wants to showcase in a room they create together back home.

Like whenever Castillo notched his first MLB hit April 9 in St. Louis, he said there was no question the ball was going to his mom. Ditto for his first RBI, obtained a week later at PNC Park. Whenever Castillo smacks his first grand slam, he also wants that bat to go in their room.

“They're gifts for her, but we’re gonna put everything in one place,” Castillo said. “That way the whole family can go there and look at it.”

Assuming there’s a TV nearby, they should probably play on loop what the Pirates did for Castillo when he made his MLB debut. After having him record a special message for her in the Busch Stadium dugout, they spliced together highlights from spring training, put them over music and also included photos of Diego and his mom.

It’s a professionally made postcard, one created to help Baba Castillo feel like she was there, even when she couldn’t be.

“He’s very, very close to his family, especially his mom,” said Mike Gonzalez, a major league assistant and the Pirates’ coordinator of international development. “With the way that the government is right now, it’s been really hard for people to come over here or get approved for visas. He was really devastated that she wouldn’t be able to make it.

“I had the idea of, ‘Why don’t you at least give her a taste of how much you wish she was here?’ Our media team put it together, and it meant the world to her. He was so happy. Just to see an organization support that — they want to make sure the family sticks together as well — I know that meant a lot to him.”

Baba Castillo was home with Diego when he was growing up and taught him English from a young age. They started with colors and finished by conjugating verbs. Diego Castillo is so proficient with the language, so smooth, that it’s sometimes easy to forget that he’s from another country.

“I was home with her all day, and she taught me so much,” Diego said. “I really appreciate how much she helped me learn the language.”

Diego Castillo is also unfailingly nice. You can’t walk past him in the clubhouse without getting some sort of hello, and he’s seemingly always happy, laughing or smiling about something.

The positive attitude and easygoing nature absolutely come from his mom, Castillo said.

“She’s always talking,” Castillo said. “Sometimes she’ll stop to talk to somebody, I’ll go to the car, and I still have to wait like 20 more minutes. I’ll be like, ‘Mom, we gotta go!’ She’s just nice to everyone. But also sometimes I’m hungry, and I wanna go.”

While Baba Castillo is by no means a baseball expert, her son said she’s been a constant source of inspiration and encouragement. Certainly not the type to break down Diego’s swing or anything complicated like that, Baba has learned the pitches he likes to hit and will notice when something seems off about his offensive or defensive game.

Baba Castillo is quick to diagnose the problem, and Diego, once hearing from his mom, is usually able to fix what’s wrong.

“She’s really good with that stuff,” Diego said.

As for Sunday, Diego said his Mother’s Day shopping is finished, though he declined to say what he got Baba. “It’s a surprise,” he said with another huge smile. Diego also expects Sunday to be emotional.

Knowing it’s Mother’s Day, he expects his mind to inevitably drift back home, to a mom he hasn’t seen in person for three years, to one of his best friends and greatest sources of inspiration.

The hope is to do something equally as special on the field and give Baba a reason to cheer.

“Mother’s Day is always special,” Castillo said. “You always want to do something great for your mom because you know she’s watching the game. It’s gonna be an amazing day.”

Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG.

First Published: May 8, 2022, 9:00 a.m.
Updated: May 8, 2022, 12:18 p.m.

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Diego Castillo during an April game.  (Stacy Revere / Getty Images)
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